In this fresh retelling of an intriguing Persian folktale, a king disguises himself and slips out of his palace. He meets three ordinary men ... or so they seem. But in fact each has a magical power and a dangerous plan to use it. The king appears to be caught up in their scheme but really has a surprise plan of his own. Kristen Balouch's inventive retelling and stunning collage-like illustrations put a hip new spin on a tale with timeless appeal.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Snazzy illustrations energize this Middle Eastern folktale in which a king disguises himself to go among his unsuspecting subjects. King Abbas, a monarch known for his impressive black mustache and accustomed to dining solo, decides to share his abundant food with the needy. Dressed as a pauper, he offers a meal to three unusual men. The first "can whistle a tune that will put anyone to sleep," the second "can see through walls" and the third can sneeze hard enough to "blow a door right off its hinges." When the concealed king says that his mustache is magical too, the three suggest combining forces and robbing the royal palace. This development sorely tests the king's generosity. Balouch, who retold Celtic, Caribbean and Native American folktales in Listen to the Storyteller, writes according to formula. The events happen "long ago in the faraway land of Persia" and conclude on a positive note: "From that day on the king never ate dinner alone." Yet the compositions break tradition. The lively images, based on Iranian pottery designs, are created with illustration software and look like two-dimensional cut-paper collage. Tumbling shapes and a confetti of dots fill the flattened space, and elephants, camels and onion domes set the desert scene. Balouch engages the eye with sparkling patterns and crisp, solid colors, and she gives her stylized characters the dramatic facial expressions of theatrical masks. Ages 3-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
K-Gr 2-This tale of Old Persia is based on a snippet of history about a real ruler and his curiosity about the common people. Tired of eating alone, King Abbas disguises himself as a poor man and slips out of the palace. He meets three men dressed in ragged clothes who tell him of their plan to rob the treasury by using their unusual skills. The first is able to whistle a tune that will put anyone to sleep, the second can see through walls, and the third can sneeze a door right off its hinges. Not to be outdone, the king tells them that if they are caught, he can free them with a mere twitch of his moustache. The plan goes off without a hitch and the king returns to the palace and has them captured. In the end, he takes wise advice from his trusted vizier and allows them an opportunity to use their abilities for good. In a brief note, Balouch explains that her husband heard this and other stories about King Abbas as a boy in Iran. The collagelike illustrations in bold orange and purple were created with Adobe Illustrator software. The thieves have square heads and exaggerated features that emphasize their magical powers and add a touch of humor to the story. The bright, action-packed pictures and graceful telling make this a good choice for reading out loud.-Doris Gebel, Northport-East Northport Public Library, NY
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good reading at bedtime,
By working stiff (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The King and the Three Thieves: A Persian Tale (Hardcover)
My kids loved it and enjoyed having it read to them. The illustrations are fun and I recommend this book to all parents.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The King & the Three Thieves,
By Nicole Brewster (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The King and the Three Thieves: A Persian Tale (Hardcover)
This is a delightful tale with a little mystery, magic and surprise. The story makes you think and the pictures WOW! your eyes. A wonderful read and a great tale to tell.
5.0 out of 5 stars
This one is for keeps,
By S. A. S "S. A. S" (The Beautiful Edmond, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The King and the Three Thieves: A Persian Tale (Hardcover)
You laugh, you cry. It is so wonderful. I started reading it to my olderst child when she was three.
Now it is on all 3 kids most wanted list. A book to cherish for ever. Each have one to take home when they are grown up to read to their kids.
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